Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:52 pm Post subject: Beverley Boys
Having put the kiss of death on BFN and the other radio stations I thought I might get the keyboards moving again by asking which Beverley Boys spent time at Langeleben.
I'll start the ball rolling by naming Ernie Cooper, John Rosson, Ben Perkins and your truly
Hi Bob, Sorry to say Beverley was long gone, by the time I joined Denbury reigned supreme; or at least it did until the next Government “improvement” and they closed all the junior leader establishments, only retaining the apprentice colleges for a few more years. Are you aware that the Beverley Boys have a pretty active web site? Dave. _________________ Dave Thomas 2 Sqn 13 SR, '63-'66
Also gone well before my time. I did often drive past the old barracks in Beverley, as my sister taught in Beverley for a number of years before retirement and still lives in the area.
The barracks was demolished, there now stands a housing estate and supermarket on the site. All that remains is a part of what was the gateway (the barracks was originallly the Depot of the East Yorkshire Regiment, the 14th Foot).
Even this bit was only saved, as the unknowing -or uncaring- developer was going to bulldoze the lot and only a last-minute protest by veterans' groups and local residents alerted the authorities to the threatening loss of part of their history. So the gateway with it's inscription now forms part of the supermarket wall. Sic transit gloria mundi!
Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: Beverley Boys
Hi Bob.
I too served at Beverley in 1952/53. 'A' Troop. It was an certainly an experience, though not exactly enjoyable I must say.
I and many others thought things couldn't get much worse for us,what with the punishments and miserly pay.Then we found out that they really could, because the next stage of our training was at Gallowgate,Catterick.
When we got off the train in Darlington we were marched there by one Corporal Stringer.I don't know how many paces per minute we did but it was a good deal faster than the usual for us 'layabout' Boy Soldiers.But as time passed things/postings got better.Loughborough,Cyprus,Bavaria,Langeleben,Berlin.So I consider myself extremely lucky to have been to these places and met some really good blokes from all walks of life, many of them really talented.And I don't just mean having the ability to drink beer from a glass boot (I know what the Germans call it but I can't spell it) without spilling any.For the most part they were very happy times and I'm glad I never missed them
Hi Mac
I was in the other squadron at Beverley and I'm more than happy to avoid a trip down memory lane as far as 6BTR goes. Like you I ended up at Gallowgate on the OWL's course. We were told that the top three students on our course would get the best postings. There was Brian Angel, Pete Bannier and yours truly who although being told we were good did not find ourselves going to the Far East or the Middle East but on a train to 10WTS. From Loughborough it was then Munster and from Muster up to 101 Wireless Troop. As far as I was concerned Langeleben was like a dream come true. By the way Mac seeing your name reminds me of that night we had over in Helmstedt with the Yanks.
Well Bob, I remember being in Helmstedt one night,in fact the ONLY time I ever went to the place.Presumably it's an age thing but I don't remember any Yanks being present.What I do remember is teaming up with two 'chicks' who turned out to be the main attraction at this bar we went to.They were strippers.... 'Well bless my soul' said I when we found out what they were about.(At least I think that's what I said). I remember having a few 'bevvies' with yanks in Konigslutter,Rosenheim and Degerndorf/Brannenburg but not Helmstedt.
Dave Thomas mentioned that the Beverley Boys have a website, perhaps it's a case of not seeing the wood for the trees because I couldn't find it....Any clues please?
Mac
Hi Guys, It seems that Boys service changed dramatically between ’56 & ’60; it may have been the move from the harsh north to the soft south, or a revision of policy by those running the show. What ever it was, virtually all the lads from Denbury remember their time with fondness, and are just as pleased to reminisce over old times as we who served at Langeleben are. I’m only glad that I was at Denbury and not Beverley, later when I was instructing at Harrogate I certainly tried to bare in mind the tender age of our young charges. For Mac, I’ll get the details of the Beverley site and pass them on for you. All the best. Dave. _________________ Dave Thomas 2 Sqn 13 SR, '63-'66
Yes I recall that night Mac, if I remember correctly you closed your eyes for a short period and only opened them when the young lady was almost at the end of her act.
David Denbury doesn't seem to have suffered from the adverse publicity that Beverley acquired. There may never have been a move to Denbury had not one of the boys written to his mother complaining about the conditions within the camp. His mother apparently wrote to one of the national newspapers who we were told sent a correspondent to the camp. The night before the correspondent arrived to view the camp there was a storm which caused a considerable amount of damage within the camp. Now whether there was a letter to the press I'm not that certain, but I do recall the storm and the damage that was inflicted. It was just after then that I departed form Beverley to Catterick. Now that was around August 1953.
Oh and another name- Frank Limerick.
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:20 pm Post subject: Beverley Boys
Hi all, especially Mac, the website for Beverley Ex Boys is.
http;//beba.bravenet.com . There is a link from the RSA website under affiliated associations. Hope that is of help.
PS I believe that Pete Ellis was ex Harrogate.
Bob,Jerry & Dave
Many thanks lads for supplying details of the Beverley Boys site.What a pity that I recognised hardly anyone at all on the photos,although one or two names were familiar in the comments section. Not many entries considering the time it's been going.
However I will keep having a 'shufty'.
Has anyone on here ever been to one of their re-unions?
Hello Mac,
Not an ex boy (exMN) so have not been to any of their reunions but they have an entry in The Wire magazine every edition and seem to be well organized. You can get in touch via the Royal Signals site if you are interested.
Tom
Well Tom
I never knew you were in the MN.
Did you join straight from school? and do your 'apprenticeship' at Hull?
How long were you in?
Where did you go?
When did you come out?
Were you at sea long enough to get your 'Sea Legs'?
Did you in fact ever go to sea?If so,were you ever sea sick?
Were you ever sick of reading crap like this?
Serious now...
There were quite a few spec ops who were ex MN.There were 3 in my lot alone (E troop) at 2 Wrls,Famagusta - Raymond Batters,Charlie Gregory & Keith Shaw.Good ops too.
Thanks for the info re: Beverley Boys.Will look into it later Tom.I notice that the standard of chat is not up to much on the thing I've been looking at. Not like wot it is on 'ere.
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